Senate president points to state’s progress at Milford luncheon

Massachusetts is pulling out of the recession, but lawmakers have more work to do to lower health care costs and market the state, Senate President Therese Murray told Milford Area Chamber of Commerce members yesterday.

By Brian Benson/Daily News staff

Milford Daily News

By Brian Benson/Daily News staff

Posted Mar. 8, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Mar 8, 2012 at 8:05 AM

By Brian Benson/Daily News staff

Posted Mar. 8, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Mar 8, 2012 at 8:05 AM

MILFORD

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Massachusetts is pulling out of the recession, but lawmakers have more work to do to lower health care costs and market the state, Senate President Therese Murray told Milford Area Chamber of Commerce members yesterday.

“I’m proud of our progress in Massachusetts,” Murray, D-Plymouth, told about 40 people gathered at the Doubletree Hotel for the chamber’s government affairs luncheon. “We’re on the right path, I think, but we have a ways to go. ”

Murray spoke to Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce members and toured Avecia Biotechnology’s Milford office before addressing the Milford chamber.

Murray highlighted the states’ 6.8 percent unemployment rate.

Massachusetts is among the leaders in recovering from the recession, she said. States with natural resources such as Texas and North Dakota are also faring well.

“We have a renewable resource, which is our educated workforce,” she said. “That’s why companies are coming here.”

Michael Peterson, chairman of the Blackstone Valley Vocational Regional School District Committee, said districts need adequate state aid to continue producing an educated workforce.

Blackstone Valley has been helped by health insurance savings and federal stimulus funds in recent years, Peterson said.

“I think we’re running out of good luck,” he told Murray. “We really do need some help.”

Murray said she would like to provide more assistance, but the state is facing a $1.6 billion deficit in the fiscal 2013 budget.

Murray highlighted recent health care efforts lawmakers have passed, including allowing health insurance purchasing cooperatives to form. Those co-ops let small businesses band together to secure better rates than they would on their own.

“We are making progress,” she said. “Some small businesses are still experiencing an increase. ... We need to bring health care costs down.”

Scott Scales of Milford National Bank and Trust Company said he was pleased Murray supported wellness efforts that would keep people from needing health care services in the first place.

“It’s better to be proactive than reactive,” Scales said.

Scales identified health care costs as one of the biggest factors hindering business growth.

“Health care is a big concern,” said Tom Reardon, who lives in Medway and owns Franklin-based Reardon HVAC. “(The recession) has been like a roller coaster.”

Murray also discussed efforts in recent years to consolidate marketing and economic development offices.

“We’re getting a much bigger bang for our buck,” she said.

Brian Benson can be reached at 508-634-7582 or bbenson@wickedlocal.com.